I like the Xbox Series X name, but I feel like this is another Wii U branding disaster in the making

[Juraash]

Even though I knew what it was as they were rolling the trailer thing, I was like...wait...am I wrong that this is a new box? So I still questioned whether I was misunderstanding. I don't think it'll be a fiasco, but I think a certain portion of consumers will be confused.

 

[RingRang]

Is that something they said?

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No, I just feel very confident that's what is going to happen.

It's the only way the name of the Series X makes sense. It also makes sense because they're going to have a cheaper Series S (I expect that to be the name), so keeping the XB1X around would make no sense if it's only a little cheaper than the Series S model.

 

[Bundy]

Have to agree here. As I've mentioned yesterday, this sounds like a PC company launched a new series of PC (or Notebooks). And it almost looks like a PC. So it's weird. Kinda like a standard current-gen console which is now coming after the Xbox One X. Don't like it. But some do, so hey ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Zojirushi]

Maybe this is the start of the final "endless" generation so basically the most powerful Xbox will always be the Series X from now on and will be updated iteratively with new components.

 

[Mahonay]

No, I just feel very confident that's what is going to happen.

It's the only way the name of the Series X makes sense. It also makes sense because they're going to have a cheaper Series S (I expect that to be the name), so keeping the XB1X around would make no sense if it's only a little cheaper than the Series S model.

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They kept selling the original Xbox two years after the Xbox 360 came out, even though OG Xbox was a failure sales wise.

I can pretty much guarantee the will continue to sell Xbox One Xs. They want to make a profit.

 

[PunishedPrince]

Supposedly there are three new ones coming out though. The powerful one, the cheaper one, and the streaming only one.

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If this guy knows that there are three new ones and then asks which one of the three and someone replies with "the x", why would he think "One X" and not "Series X".

 

[Betamaxbandit]

I agree that's it's going to be a fiasco, especially if they name Lockhart the Xbox Series S like would make sense.

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"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

 

[Conrad Link]

Even though I'm not a fan of the name, I don't think it'll cause as much problems as some are making it seem.

But I also don't think the name ever had anything to do with the Wii U stuff either.

 

[EN1GMA]

Well, currently you have:

iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone Xʀ, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, that's six models.

Source: https://www.apple.com/fr/iphone/

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Three of those models are from previous years that will be dropped going forward. Pretty easy to know that the iPhone 11 is above the iPhone 8 or iPhone 11 Pro is above the iPhone 8 Plus.

 

[ShaDowDaNca]

Without a doubt people will be confused.

 

[mazpratim]

The fact that people have to explain why they called it this and why it makes sense is already bad, a name should be self explanatory, it should not have any confusion whatsoever

 

[ShaDowDaNca]

Was Xbox 2 taken?

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Ikr or....
Xbox V
Xbox 5

 

[dabri]

If this guy knows that there are three new ones and then asks which one of the three and someone replies with "the x", why would he think "One X" and not "Series X".

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That assumes series x doesn't apply to all 3.
series x (2020):

Xbox, Xbox lite, Xbox stream

series z (2027):
Xbox, Xbox lite, Xbox stream

 

[AmFreak]

as i've asked in another thread:
what will the Next gen name be?

to clarify, im talking about the future (ps6) Generation

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Maybe they want to create a naming convention that makes it clear that some set of rules apply to all those consoles e.g. not breaking bc and loosing your already purchased games like a numbered transition up to now indicated.
They could just continue with numbers like the gpu makers Series S/X -> series S/X 1500 (mid-gen) -> series S/X 2000 ("next-gen") ...

 

[Acetown]

The reveal had me a little confused. It looked like a new console, but then the name came up and I wasn't so sure what to make of it. "Series X" makes it sound like it's a special edition Xbox One it something, and the controller looks the same.
Phil Spencer cleared it up when he got on stage so it's not a huge deal, but I don't get what they're going for with the name. It abbreviates to SX as in Xbox One S and Xbox One X I guess?

 

[RobbRivers]

It is a bit confusing in non English Speaking countries. Series X in Spanish means something like porn series.

It should have used Xbox X and S and the ongoing models X2, S2...

I hope they are not as us/uk centric as last generation. There are very few people in Spain that have Xbox. They should have never used "One" in naming.

 

[XboxCowdry]

The Gameboy had very clear, distinct, naming:

Game Boy
Game Boy Color (has a color screen, which is why you want it)
Game Boy Advance (Advanced Gameboy, also looks totally different)

What does Series X mean, and how is it different from One X?

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Xbox Series X is different enough from Xbox One X . People knew the different with the Gameboy family of devices and in the age of Google. They will know the difference. Let's face it the naming of the Wii U was not while it flopped.

 

[Handsome James]

I think people are expecting shops etc to be stacking 1S,1X, series X etc all together for maximum confusion when people ask for a new Xbox.

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I guess I just don't think that consumer buying new tech for $500+ hardware are that stupid to not see the difference between "The New Xbox Series X" sitting next to "Xbox One X" (along with a $200 price difference) and not knowing which one is the new one. New adopters are the least likely to be confused by this.

MS hasn't even started the marketing or communication around what differentiates this from the Xbox One line. Over time the older consoles will be phased out anyway.

 

[PunishedPrince]

That assumes series x doesn't apply to all 3.
series x (2020):

Xbox, Xbox lite, Xbox stream

series z (2027):
Xbox, Xbox lite, Xbox stream

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I'm gonna assume MS isn't that dumb. They have been trying market "X" to mean power or high class. Why would they abandon that for more letters?

I'm thinking it's going to be like this:

Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series X( High End)

Next gen will be:

Xbox Series E2
Xbox Series S2
Xbox Series X2

And so on and so forth until the end of time

 

[lunanto]

First round: name.

Xbox Series X: 0 - Playstation 5: 1

 

[iareharSon]

I'm gonna assume MS isn't that dumb. They have been trying market "X" to mean power or high class. Why would they abandon that for more letters?

I'm thinking it's going to be like this:

Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series X( High End)

Next gen will be:

Xbox Series E2
Xbox Series S2
Xbox Series X2

And so on and so forth until the end of time

Click to shrink...

Xbox Series X.... SEX

Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series X( High End)

SEX

Genius marketing

 

[Kerotan]

Agreed. It is very confusing and I'm not seeing any social media chatter in my circles. It flew right under the radar. The name doesn't stand out from the already existing Xbox One X and revealing it as part of the game awards doesn't generate the hype you need. Could well be another Wii U especially if it sells similar to the Xbox One X

 

[NimbusCub]

I think what most arguments comparing this to the WiiU aren't considering is that the design of the hardware itself and marketing caused many to believe that WiiU was a tablet add-on for the original Wii.

The design of the Series X will be easy to differentiate from the One X in terms of design and form-factor.

The earlier they can establish that Xbox is the product and that there are different series and name modifiers to communicate different skus (i.e. Xbox Series S Digital for a riskless version) the better.

 

[PunishedPrince]

Xbox Series X.... SEX

Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series X( High End)

SEX

Genius marketing

Click to shrink...

But....yeah I've got nothing. Sexbox here we come

 

[RingRang]

They kept selling the original Xbox two years after the Xbox 360 came out, even though OG Xbox was a failure sales wise.

I can pretty much guarantee the will continue to sell Xbox One Xs. They want to make a profit.

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Well if they do that they're definitely going to have a confusing name situation on their hands, as well as a bit of a price confusion between the X and their cheapest next gen sku.

 

[Issen]

I don't believe in the Wii U comparisons because the difference in everything will actually be noticeable

edit: this new naming scheme willhelp them in the future since it's now just an "Xbox"

Xbox Series X2 and X3 and so on for high end models of the future

Xbox Series S2 and so on

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They could even drop the "Series" starting with the next models. It's necessary right now to differentiate them from the Xbox One S and X, but they can just use Xbox X2 and Xbox S2 later on.

 

[Rogue Kiwi]

I'm gonna assume MS isn't that dumb. They have been trying market "X" to mean power or high class. Why would they abandon that for more letters?

I'm thinking it's going to be like this:

Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series X( High End)

Next gen will be:

Xbox Series E2
Xbox Series S2
Xbox Series X2

And so on and so forth until the end of time

Click to shrink...

They shouldve called this line the Xbox Series X1 then for maximum confusion.

 

[Kerotan]

Xbox Series X.... SEX

Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series X( High End)

SEX

Genius marketing

Click to shrink...

Very kid and family friendly indeed

 

[Eddman]

I think Microsoft is in a weird position regarding the name of their consoles: they already have a well positioned brand, like Xbox, but if they just put a number for a new gen, they will look lazy and trying to copy the PlayStation naming style, and the "Xbox 4" will sound older than "PlayStation 5".

And their console is a traditional one, powerful and everything, but without a gimmick that could help to define the name and marketing, like Nintendo has done since the N64, so yeah, I think they need to create some kind of naming logic for their consoles.

As many have already said, they can build upon X being the flagship model and S the cheaper one, but dropping the "Series"

 

[dabri]

I'm gonna assume MS isn't that dumb. They have been trying market "X" to mean power or high class. Why would they abandon that for more letters?

I'm thinking it's going to be like this:

Xbox Series E( Streaming)
Xbox Series S( Standard)
Xbox Series X( High End)

Next gen will be:

Xbox Series E2
Xbox Series S2
Xbox Series X2

And so on and so forth until the end of time

Click to shrink...

I doubt they would even do that.
Simply stick with the same naming schema and chase that apple branding schema.
2020 model, 2026 model, etc

 

[Squirrel09]

The fact that it can be horizontal doesn't mean it will necessarily fit in your average TV bench. I personally doubt it will fit in mine, which is why it would be best for me to treat it as a subwoofer and put it on the side.

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Yeah, that makes since. It is thicker than any other of their consoles. The Switch fits in my cabinet, although I need to tilt It to undock. So i'm hoping this will slid in. I don't think my wife would go for the sub woofer look route lol

 

[iareharSon]

Basically all they've done is named the console the "Xbox," and have Series "Whatever" as the differentiation between the SKUs. It's not an awful naming convention by any means, unless you view "Xbox Series X" in a vacuum.

 

[StringM]

I mean, after x-box S and all that shit, I really think it may be confusing but remember that wii u basically failed because of the emphasis they made on the new controller. Microsoft displayed a brand new looking console with a design that we've not seen yet on consoles so, even if someone is not as into gaming, I believe they might notice instantly we are talking about a new console.

 

[psynergyadept]

They should just used their code names; Xbox Scarlett and Xbox Lockhart sound bad ass!

 

[Deleted member 43]

As has been pointed out, Xbox SS is not a good name.

 

[Animus]

Xbox One X and Xbox Series X. Not confusing at all /s

 

[Jarrod38]

Me walking into Best Buy I would like to buy the Xbox Series X ok they're located over there. Not that hard.

 

[Lotus]

Yea the more I think on it, the name is terriblly confusing.

 

[Knight613]

Xbox is just weird with their fascination with the letter X.

Microsoft numbers Windows, Surface, even the Elite Controller. Yet with Xbox they just refuse to do the logical thing and put a number.

 

[Charpunk]

People can handle iPhone 11 Pro Max, they can handle this. It's not that complicated.

 

[DarthWalden]

Are people here actually legitimately confused by the naming scheme or is everyone just worried that the greater public is going to be confused by the naming scheme?

 

[Gareth]

I think it'll be fine by the time it launches.

 

[Deleted member 48897]

Should have called it the "series x box" so we could all collectively shorten it to "sexbox", which has "xboner" compatibility

 

[Knight613]

Are people here actually legitimately confused by the naming scheme or is everyone just worried that the greater public is going to be confused by the naming scheme?

Click to shrink...

There are definitely people that are confused here.

 

[Deleted member 58846]

Are people here actually legitimately confused by the naming scheme or is everyone just worried that the greater public is going to be confused by the naming scheme?

Click to shrink...

There are people professing confusion in this very thread.

 

[Puffy]

XBSX XSX Xbox X XBX Xbox Series X Xbox SX

 

[Maquiladora]

Xbox Series X sounds like the name for a family of Xbox's that already exist, like the Xbox One X and Xbox One S...

It's a terrible name but it's only going to confuse people who aren't aware that it is the name of the next generation Xbox.

 

[Merc]

Disagree completely. The console will just be called Xbox X among the masses. Xbox X. The letter X is really easy to remember...

 

[Deleted member 4970]

Everyone here knows what it is and I bet any parent going to spend $400-$500 on one will damn sure do their research before buying one. Not to mention the fact that the thing will be advertised everywhere. People don't just trip into a GameStop and accidentally buy expensive electronics. They do their research.

People also act like store employees would never ask questions i.e. by asking if a customer is here to purchase the new xbox or playstation

It seems like a problem if you stare at the names Xbox One X and Xbox Series X in the same sentence, a scenario which will almost never happen IRL unless people are talking about BC

 

[PyroPaperPlanes]

When it came to advertising the Wii U, Nintendo barely showed off the console (+the console looks incredibly similar to a Wii). Unaware parents simply thought it was a controller that came bundled with the Wii rather than an entirely new system. There were also other factors at play, we've discussed this all before.

So while Microsoft's naming scheme still leaves something to be desired, at the very least the hardware is physically distinguishable enough from everything currently on the (console) market. That and theoretically, the Xbox One will still be supporting XSX (Xbox Series X) games. If Little Timmy ends up with an Xbox One instead of an Xbox Series X, at least he can still use it to play the latest games (if at a reduced graphical fidelity). Sure some kids will care and be upset, others will just be happy to have a console.